A DISABLED widower has been left heartbroken after a pendant containing his wife's ashes was ripped from his neck in a New Year's Eve street robbery.

Mark Haywood was returning home from the Railway pub on St James’ Street, Accrington, at 2.30am and sat down outside the town's library when he was approached by two men and a woman.

He said: “They came and asked me if I was okay then they got up and grabbed the chain from my neck.

“I was in shock and I fell but I am disabled and I think they saw someone who was vulnerable as I have arthritis down the left side of my body.

“I did not have my stick as I had gone to a club on Sydney Street to play snooker and then bring in the new year.

“I had a stroke and heart attack in March last year and am still recovering.

“The cross cannot be replaced. This is just the worst start to 2019.”

His wife, Jane, died in March 2016. The chain had wedding rings attached.

The 53-year-old said: “I just thought this kind of thing never happens to me.

“I could not believe it as I was only 20 yards away from my home.

“One of the men was in his late 20s and had blond hair and was wearing grey bottoms and grey T-shirt.

“The other man had black hair with a black top. The girl, who stood back, had long blonde hair.”

The theft came after reports of a man being knocked unconscious and having his wallet and keys stolen when walking home from the Bold Street Working Men’s Club in Accrington on December 30 at 11.30pm.

Mr Haywood said: “I just feel so upset and don’t want to go out especially at night after this especially with the incident on Bold Street and everyone is a bit scared.”

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “We received a call to an address on St James' Street on January 1 where a man had a chain ripped from his neck and fell to the floor and was assaulted.

“Anyone with information can contact police using the reference 865 of January 1.”